First same-sex couple marries in Allen County

There was a rush on marriage licenses Wednesday afternoon in the office of the Allen County Clerk. In the first 75 minutes staff there issued licenses to gay and lesbian couples, nine same-sex couples had applied.

Shortly before 3 p.m., the first same-sex couple married in Allen County tied the knot on the Courthouse plaza, attended by a few friends and relatives and a handful of reporters and photographers.

Josh Reid, 29, and Kenny Edholm, 28, said they had been ready for weeks, waiting on the ruling released midday Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Richard Young, who said the state's ban on same-sex marriages violates the U.S. Constitution's equal-protection clause.

The couple, who said they have been together for 10 years, made it downtown in time to be first in line for a license.

The clerk's office did not begin issuing licenses immediately after the ruling was released.

SueEllen Keeler, supervisor of central services division in the clerk's office, said that Clerk Lisbeth Borgmann and Chief Deputy Chris Nancarrow both read the ruling, sought the advice of the county attorney, and decided that the clerk's office should issue licenses to same-sex couples.

About 2 p.m. Wednesday, the office began issuing licenses to same-sex couples.

Both men said staff members in the county clerk's office were very supportive.

"It was very cool," said Edholm. "The staff here was congratulating us."